2013 Nissan Altima evolves with innovative technology

Nissan’s mid-size Altima sedan has been redesigned for 2013 and the all-new fifth generation of the popular family sedan is really a honey of a car. The interior and exterior are completely new with the focus on more of an upscale look, while, at the same time, the government’s crash testing of the Altima resulted in a perfect five stars for overall safety and frontal and side protection.

For 2013, Altima keeps the same basic dimensions as the previous generation, but new attention to aerodynamic design helps give the totally restyled body a more upscale appearance. More importantly, the new body features a new front tower strut brace similar to those found on sports cars, and additional rear structural support built into the rear parcel shelf to enhance structural rigidity and lateral handling response.

At the same time, overall body weight has been reduced with aluminum hood and bumper reinforcements and greater use of high-tensile steel (more than half the steel in the body is high-strength steel). The total vehicle weight has been reduced by about 80 pounds.

This latest incarnation of the Altima has an amazing list of new components and changes that make it a much better automobile. For example, while it may look the same, the body is lighter, more rigid and cuts a cleaner path through the wind. It’s powered by a 2.5-liter, 182 hp inline four-cylinder engine that’s lighter, stronger, quicker and more fuel-efficient than the previous 2.5-liter engine design. The engine is mated to a next-generation Xtronic Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT) that introduces a new dimension of smooth operation and fuel efficiency.

There’s also a new, refined rear multi-link suspension that resembles those found in European sports sedans and a hybrid power steering system that combines the feel of a traditional hydraulic box with the efficiency of modern electric control.

On the inside, the front seats were designed for comfort with inspiration from outer space technology, and the intuitive 3Deffect information display is easy to view and the navigation system is never outdated and continuously tells you where to go. There’s also a music connection to Pandora to satisfy your every mood.Even the armrests are more padded than in most other cars.

Other new wrinkles include a tire pressure monitoring system that tells you when a tire is low and an advanced RearView Monitor camera that detects four views and available Blind Spot Warning (BSW), Lane Departure Warning (LDW) and Moving Object Detection (MOD).